MLA Halady Srinivas Shetty said, “Local villagers of Kodibengre decided to make the village tobacco-free 20 years ago and made it completely free of the vice. Now the government is officially declaring the village as tobacco-free. This is like giving protection and embossing the decision of the villagers. Now the responsibility of villagers has increased with this announcement.”
Shetty was speaking after declaring Kodibengre village as tobacco-free on the occasion of World Tobacco Day. He further said, “I was surprised when I visited Kodibengre village 15 years ago that the villagers have taken vow to make the place tobacco and alcohol-free.
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